Type-writing machine.



W. P. KIDDER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APE.25.190'6.

PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

WITNESSES. -l'-l I II$NTOR w f ATTORNEYS.

No. 871,344. PATENTED NOV. 19, .1907. W. P. K-IDDER.

TYPE WRITING-MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.25. 19'06'.

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p KWE/VTOR I l 1 Wul j I B v ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn.

WELLINGTON PARKER KIDDER, or BOSTON, MAssAcHUsE'r'rs, ASSIGNOR T0 PARKER MACHINE COMPANY, or BUFFALOQNEW YORK, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

TYPE-.WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov, 19, 1907.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it? known that I, WELLINGTONPARKER KIDDER, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusettshave in vented certain newand useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following 1s. a full, clear, and exact description, suches will enable others skilled in the art to 'which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is directed to' typewriting machines, and has specialrelation to that. class ofmachines in which the writing is efiected in viewof the operator.

One of theobjects of the invention is to provide a construction whereby a clear and unobstructed view of the writing may at all times be had.

Another (object is to rinting construction that w ile the closes the printing point, the type-carrying cation of which members are not opposed thereby when projected to carry the same against the platen. Other objects will be in part obvious and in art pointed out hereinafter.

he invention accordingly consists in the features poi construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which -will be exem lified in the construction herelar. parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

One of the chief obstacles in the way of complete visibility of the writing in machines of the front or top strike type as lutheri 0 constructed resides in the di'liicul'ty of carrying the ribbon clear of the platen to uncover E d d rovide mean? fhor supp'or mgan gui mg t at portion 0 t e 'l'lbbOII bein drawn acrossthe point of Isuc "ribbon 'is normally removed from and disthe-writing when the same has been pressed thereagainst by the types.

It is the aim of my invention, which- I shall resentl e lain in detail, to eliminate the a ove di 0 ty and attain other desirable ends by providing. a construction wherein theribbon is normally held away from the printing point in a relativelytaut condition, but that portion thereof adjacent the printing point is automatically slackened when the type bars are progressing towards the,platen so as not to ".npede,their movements, such slack being taken u and the ribbon'carried from the platen uring the returning of the t e bars to their normal positions. The a ove and other advantages are secured in constructions of the nature of that hereinafter described.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein I have shown my invention applied to a noiselessl operating ty ewriter, the frame- -work of t e machineis esignated by 1, and

portion a table or bed carries in its upper e ty e-carrymg members 2 upon which t rest and across which t ey are adapted to be projected when operated for rintlng. But one of the type-ca herein, but it will e understood that said members are grou ed u'pon bed 2 in such manner as to be t st against a common point upon the platen, which is shown in the present instance as constituted by a bar or plate 4 having a plane impression surface to receive the impact of the types and a curved rear surface which fits about the similarly shaped periphery of the aper roll 5, journaled at either end in t e platen" frame 6.

The laten frame is mounted to be shifted vertica ly in ways 7 provided in u rights carried by-a yoke 8 mounted upon a hair 9, upon which said platen frame slides when fed for letter spacing. This bar is supported upon suitable standards 10 erected upon the framing of the machine. Each of the type-carrying members is connected as by means of a link 11 with toggle mechanism 12, adapted to be actuated through a link 13 connected with. a key lever 14, which is journaled upon a fulcrum rod 15 extending horizontally transversely of the machine and fastened in the end walls thereof.

The key levers rest upon the universal bail ing mem ers 3 is shown- 16, suspendedby means bf links 1 7 from I rocker-arms 18 extending from a universal rock-shaft lg journaled in the endwalls of the machine, and each of theikfe jievers is normally maintained in its upperfn'ost posi tion by means of a retractile spring 20 connected therewith at 21, and is also suitably connected with the framing of the machine as at 22. i

The abovedescribed mechanism comprises no part of my present invention, certain features thereof being-shown, described and claimed in an application of Charles W. Sponse], Serial No.-274,650, filed August 18, 1905, and my appli( :ation,' Serial No. 298,592, filed January 30, 1906, but is shown herein in order to-renderth s ructural features of my inventionclearenof understandmg. 1

Journaled upon suitablyfltrivenupright shafts 23. arranged at either end of the machine are spools 24 upon which is wound an inking ribbon 25, the ribbon being adapted to be drawn by said spools back and forth longitudinally ofthe platen and across the printing point thereof. That partof the ribbon adjacent the printing pointis threaded through slots 2.6 provided in a pair of guides 27 erected upon 'bed 2, said guides operating to guidei'the ribbon-across the printing point,

' and arezarrangerf at such'ilistance from the platen that the ribbon when extended therebetween" ill. not obstruct 'a' view of the writing. i 1 w 1 Mountediupon' ai rod 28 journaled in'the end walls hftlieaframing of the machine are a pair of s'wihging'arms 29 whichextend upward-ly therefrom, said arms being spaced apart adista'nce slightly greater than the distancebetwe'en guides 27, the upper eX-' tremities thereof being adapted normally to engage the inking ribbon, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, behind guides 27. One of the arms 29 is connected by means of a cranked link 30 with an arm 31 extending from universal shaft 19 and keyed or pinned thereto at 32.

Ilaving thus described the structural features constituting my invention, the operation thereof may now be understood. With the key levers in their normal'positions, arn1s'29 are held in engagement with the ribbon by means of universal shaft 19', through the-connecting mechanism, and are disposed slightly behind guides 27, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the ribbon, by means of said arms,

--being held ina slightly taut condition so that the same will extend in substantially a straight line between guides 27, thus insur forwardly simultaneously with the forward thrust of said type-carrying member, and to be carried out o engagement with the ribbon shown in Fig. 4. As arms 29 are noragainst the impeding or hindering of the thrusts of the type-carrying members to impression. In other words, the slack which is taken up on either side of guides 27 by arms 29 when the parts are in their normal positions will be transferred to occupy a position between said guides by the type-carrymg members when projected for printing.

During the returning of the parts to normal positions arms 29 will again engage the ribbon to take up the slacktherein between guides 27, and thereby remove the ribbon from the printing point of the platen to the position shown in Fig. 3, where the same will not obscure a view of the writing.

It will accordingly be seen'that I have provided mechanism wherein is realized'the aims and objects of my invention, characterized by simplicity and efiiciency. The ribbon is normally held in:such position. as to afford a clear view of the writing, and yet that part thereof being fed across the printing point is easily carried against the platen from the position of rest. It will also be observed that slack in the ribbon adjacent the printing point is produced simultaneously at the initial movement of the type-carrying members to impression, and is gradually produced during the progression of such members toward the platen, such slack being taken up in a similar manner during the recovery of the type-carrying members.

While I have shown my invention applied to a front strike typewriter, it is obvious that the same may be employed withe ual facility intop strike machines, or in any 'orm of machine wherein visible writing is sought to be attained.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of my inven tion could be made without departing from the scope thereof, I intend that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. I desire it also to be understood that.

the language used in the following claims is "printing point.

a ribbon in a position away from the printing l'or rendering the same slack during t e proect-1on of. the type bars toward the platen.

porting the same in a position removed from the prmtmg point so as to expose the wrlting,

operated by the key levers for rendering the ribbon slack during the thrust of a printing mstrumentality to impression.

tion with an inking ri bon, of means for guidclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a typewriting machine, the combination'with an inking ribbon, of means for supand means for rendering the ribbons lack durmgthe pro ection of the type bars to the 2. In a typewriting machine, the combinatlon with means for supporting the inkingpomtso as to expose the writing, and means *3. In a typewriting machine, the combination witlimeans for normally supporting the inking ribbon in a position removed from the' platenso as to expose the writing, of means operated by the key levers and engaging the ribbon in the vicinity of the printin point 4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with means for supporting an inking ribbonlin a position normally removed'from and disclosing the printing point, of means operated through a connection with the universal bar for rendering the ribbon slack during the thrust of a printing instrumentality to impression.

5, Ina typewriting machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, of means for sup. porting the same in a position removed from' the platen so as to ex ose the writing, and means engaging the ri bon in roximity to the printing point and operated t rough a connectionwith the universal bar adapted for rendering the same slack during the projection of the'ty'pe bars against the platen,

' 6. In a typewritin machine, the combinaing the ribbon across the printing pointand means for slacking the-ribbon during the thrusts of the printing instrumentalitles to impression.

- 7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, of means for guiding the ribbon, adapted to support the same so as to expose to view the printing point, and rneans for rendering the ribbon slack which becomes eil'ective duringthe progress of the type barstoward the printing point.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, of guiding means for the ribbon adapted to support thesame sons to expose to view the printing point,

the universal bar becomes effective to produce slack i'n'the ribbon during the'progress l of thetypebars toward the platen. l

9. Inla typewriting machine, in combination, an inking ribbon, and means for aintaining. the ribbon in arelatively taut condition away from and disclosing the printing point, said last mentloned means being adapted for relieving the ribbon from its taut portion of the ribbon being fed across the printing point, and means cooperating with said guidmgmeans for maintaining the ribbon normally in a relatively taut condition away from and disclosing the printing point, said last-mentioned means becoming efi'ective to render the ribbon slack during the:

thrusts of the type bars to impression.

11'. In a typewriting machine, in combination, an inking ribbon, means for guiding that portion of the ribbon-being fed across the printing 'oint, and means cooperating with said gui ing means for maintaining the ribbon 'normally in a relatively taut condition away from and exposing to view'the printing point, said last-mentioned means through a connection with the universal bar becoming effective to render the ribbon slack during the thrusts of the type bars toimpression.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a laten, a series of type bars and a ribbon fee ing mechanism, of means for holding the ribbon in a normal position which affords a view of the printing-point; and for rendering the ribbon slack when the type bars are being projected against the platen.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination witha laten, a series of type bars and a ribbon fee ing mechanism, of means for holding the ribbon relatively taut in a normal position which afl'ords a View of the printing point, saidmeans becoming effective to reeve'the ribbon from'its taut condition as the type bars are moving toward the platen.

14. In a visible typewriting machine, the

combination with a platen, a series of type bars and a ribbon winding mechanism, of

means for holding the ribbon in a normal position which affords a view of the printing point adapted to render the some slack while the type JZLI'S are being projected to impression, said means also operating to'take up such slack during the recovery of the tgpe bars.

15.1 In a visible typewritmgmac me, the combination'with a 1platen and a series of type Lars, of a pair 0 ribbon spools adapted for feeding the ribbon across the printing point,'a carrier for the ribbon arranged in proximity to the printing point, and means cooperating with said carrier to automatically reduce slack in the ribbon while the type liars are moving in the direction of the platen. 16. In a visible tvpcwriting machine, the combination with the type bars, the key levers connected therewith. a platen and a rib-' bon-feeding mechanism, of a ribbon carrier arranged in proximity to the printing point and means operated at each depression of a key lever for producing slack in the ribbon so as not to impede the thrusts of the' type bars against the platen, said means also oper ating to take up any slack in the ribbon while the keylevers are returning to initial position,

thereby normally maintaining the ribbon "the ribbon during the projection and returntype bars in'g movements respectively of the type bars.

- 18. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, the type bars and-a ribbon-winding mechanism, of means for supporting the ribbon in a position normally removed from and dis-(losing the printing point, said ribbon being adapted to be ,pressed against the platen by the type bars during their movements to impression, and means for renderingth'e ribbon slack during the movement of the type bars to impression, and for returning said ribbon to normal position after each impression.

19. In a visible typewriting'machme, the combination with a platen, a series of; type bars and a ribbon-winding mechanism, of means for supporting the ribbon in a position normally removed from and disclosing the printing point. said ribbon being adapted to be moved from normal position and pressed against the platen by the type bars during their strokes to impression, and means operated from the universal bar for returning the ribbon to normal position after each impression.

20. In a visible typewriting machine, the combination with an inking ribbon normally removed from the platen in order to expose to view the writing, the type bars and the key levers, of means for producing slack in the ribbon so as not to impede the movements of the type bars when projected to impression, and means for actuating saidlastmentioned means upon each depression of a key lever.

21. In a visible typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a series of ty e bars and a ribbon winding mechanism, 0 a ribbon carrier arranged in the vicinity of the printing point adapted normally to hold the ribbon in a position away from and disclosing the printing point, and means cooperating with said ribbon carrier at each projection of a type bar against the platen to produce slack in the ribbon so as not to interfere with the free movement of the type bar. to impression.

22 In a visible typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a plurality of and a-ribbon winding mechanism, of a ribbon'carrier for supporting the ribbon in a position removed from the printing point'so as normally to expose the same to the view of the operator, and, means cooperating with-said ribbon carrier adapted to produce slack. in the ribbon at each actuation of a type bar toward the platen and for taking up such slack whilethe type bar is reiturmng' to its normal position. v

23. In a visible typewriting machine, the

combination with a platen, a series of type carriers and a ribbon winding mechamsm adapted for moving the ribbon longitudinallyof the platen across the printingpoint, of a member for guiding that portion of the ribbon being fed across the printing point the same in a. position reand supporting moved from and disclosing said printing point, and a member which cooperates with said afore-rnentioned member to provide slack in the ribbon while the type carriers are being moved to impression, said lastmentioned member being also adapted to cooperate with said first-mentioned member to take up such slack during the returnin movements of the type carriers to norma position. i

24. In a visible typewriting maohine, the combination with -a platen, a series of type carriers and a ribbon winding mechanism adapted for drawin the ribbon across the printing point on t e platen, of a pair of guides for supporting the ribbon in proximity to the printingv point, and means which becomes eflective at each actuation of a type carrier. toward the printing point, adapted for producing slack in the ribbon,- said means also becoming eflective during the returning to normal position of said ty e carriers to take up such slack and there y remove the ribbon from the printing point so as to expose to view the writing.

so I

25. In a visible typewriting machine, the i I ribbon in proximity to the printing point is supported in a positionremoved therefrom so as to expose to view the writing, and a pair of arms engaging the ribbon adapted through their cooperation with said guides to produce slack in that portion of the ribbon in proximity to the printing point during the movements of the'type carriers toward the platen, said arms also operating to take up such slack while said type carriers are being returned to their normal position.

26. In a visible typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a series of type carriers and a ribbon winding mechanism, of a pair of guidea supporting that portion of the ribbon adjacent the printing pointin a position removed from and disclosing said printing point, and a pair of arms normally en v toward the platen.

- engage said arms from said ribbon, thereby combination with a gaging said ribbon and inaintaini same in its normal positiomsaid arins eing adapted to bedisengaged the ribbon during'the movements of the type carriers to impression, thereb producing slack therein so as not to impe e the movements of said type carriers toward the platen, and means connecting said arms with the universal bar,

27. In a visible typewriting machine, the

combination witha platen, a series of type carriers and a pair of ribbon spools for drawingthe ribbon across .the, printing point on the platen, of a pair'o'f'guides supporting that portion of the ribbon being drawn across the printing point, a'pair of arms normally in engagement with said ribbon adapted to cooperate with said guides-to maintain the'ribbon away from the printing point soas to expose the writing to the view of the operator, and means for disengaging said arms from the ribbonsoas to produce slack therein and thereby prevent the same opposing the movements of the type parriers 28. .In a visible typewriting machine, the platen, a series of type carriers vandca pair 0 for drawing the ribbon longitudinally o the platen, of a air of guides for support n that portion of t e ribbonwhich is bein across the'printing point on the p aten, a pair of arms normal y in engagement with the ribbon tomaintam the same in a relaftively taut condition and being held in such engagement throu h a connection with the universal bar, sai universal bar throu b said connecting means being adapted to disprodlgrlzing slack in the ribbon and permitting t e type carriers to carry the ribbon forward and press the same against the platen.

29. a visible typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a series of type e carriers and'a pair of spools adapted to in oint on the platen,,of a air of s uid d at rotated to feed the ribbon across the rint-' otted es. in which is supporte at ortion of the ribbon being fed across sai printing point, a pair of arms normally held in engagement with the ribbon, said arms cooperating with said guides to'normally hold the ribbon away from'the printing point in such position that the writing is ex osed to view, a rock shaft upon which sai arms are mounted, and means for engaging and disengaging said arms from the ribbon, operated through a connection with the universal bar.

30. In a visible typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a series of type carriers and apair of ribbon spools by means of which the ribbon is fed longitudinally of the ribbon spools ada ted rawn the platen across the printing point thereof,-

of a pair of guides arranged m proximity to the printing point on the laten for supporting that portion of the r1 bon ad acent the printing point in a position normally removed from and disclosin the printing point, a air of arms adapte to engage the ribbon a jacent said guides and toImamtam the same in a relativel taut condition, and

means-connecting sai .arms with the uni- I versal bar adapted upon each depression thereof to disengage-said arms from said ribbon'whereby the same is slaoked while the type bars are being projected to impression,

said means also 0 eratin to rengage said arms with said ri bon w ile the typebars are being returned to their normal OSIi-IOH.

31. In a visible typewriting mac nne, the combination with a laten, a series oftvpe bars, a series of key evers each of which 18 adapted to operate atype bar, and a pair of ribbon s ools adapted for feeding the ribbon 'longitu nally of the platen across the printing point thereof, of a pair of guides erected upon the framing of the machine adapted for supporting that portion of the ribbon adlacent e printing point in a position away from and disclosing said printing point, a pair of arms normally adapted to bear against the ribbon and to maintain that portlon of the; ribbon extendingbctween said guides I in a normally taut condition, a rock-shaft upon which said arms are mounted, a second rock' shaft connected with the universal bar, and a member connecting said arms with said last mentioned rock shaft whereby at each depression of the universal bar s a1d arms are-swung out of engagement with the ribbon as the type bars are being PIO1tGtt-3d against the platen, thereby producing slack in the ribbon and affording an unobstructed movement for said type bars when projected to impression.

32. In a visible typewriting maclnne, the combination with a platen, a series of type air of arms adapted for producing and takmg up slack in that portion of the inking I'll)- bon'in proximity to the printi point on the platen, said arms being adapte to follow the lot -bars and a ribbon winding mechanism, of a 

